All tag results for born without hands

Annie Clark, a 7 year old born without hands, has won a national penmanship award!

How impressive is that?

Annie uses her forearms to grip the pencil tightly, and pays special attention as she writes to make sure she crosses each "t" and dots every "i."

She can also use scissors and glue in class, she dresses herself, she feeds herself, she swims, and she can ride a bike!!!

Her teacher, Lauren Erb, said the following after Annie received the penmanship award:

"We don't consider her a special ed [student], she's just Annie, She picks up on things very quickly. She keeps pace with the classroom and the curriculum. This has been a very natural thing for her. She just did it, she wrote just like this. She didn't have therapy.”

The Handwriting Contest added a new category this year for students with disabilities.

Annie’s mother Mary Ellen Clark recalled how amazing it was to watch Annie accept the award in front of the whole school.

She said:

“She went up to receive the trophy and I could tell she was overwhelmed, but she was poised. Then I would say it started to sink in and I saw her smile and I could tell she was enjoying the moment.”

"My metabolism actually changed like crazy this year. I have Hashimoto's disease. It's a thyroid disease, and it's now been two years since taking the medication for it, so for the VS show I didn't want to lose any more weight, I just want to have muscles in the right place, and if my butt can get a little perkier, then that's good."